F-16D hit by drone during routine training flight in Arizona

In January 2023, during a standard training mission, a U.S. Air Force F-16D aircraft encountered an unexpected incident over Arizona. The flight, conducted near Gila Bend, was routine and involved an instructor pilot and a trainee pilot. As they were flying, the instructor pilot observed an object that appeared mostly white and orange, which collided with the left side of the aircraft canopy. Initially perceived as a bird, a common risk in aviation, further inspections revealed no evidence consistent with a bird strike. Upon landing at Tucson International Airport, a thorough examination was conducted, and the flight crew found zero signs of feathers or biological debris that would indicate a bird had struck the aircraft. Instead, officials from the U.S. defense department concluded that the object involved in the collision was likely a small unmanned aerial system (UAS), commonly known as a drone. This finding highlighted the increasing concerns related to drone operations, particularly in areas close to military training activities. The operator of the drone was not identified, and the drone itself was never recovered. The incident raised questions regarding the legality of drone operations in the area and sparked discussions about safety protocols for both aircraft and unmanned systems. Defense officials noted that this kind of occurrence is rare, and as of that date, no further incidents of unmanned systems colliding with military aircraft had been reported. In conclusion, while there were no injuries or significant damage from the collision, U.S. defense officials maintained that both the safety of military operations and the unauthorized usage of drones in their vicinity need to be critically addressed. The Department of Defense subsequently clarified previous reports that had incorrectly suggested the F-16D was damaged due to the drone strike and reassured the public about the thorough investigation undertaken following the incident.